Course List - Fitness Program Leaders

Course Description :

This course introduces the student to the development of personalized fitness programs, to the field of practice of private training and to the promotion of an ethical approach to fitness and healthy lifestyle habits with clients.

It allows the student to understand the importance of physical activity in reducing the risk of chronic disease and improving overall quality of life. In this course, the student will learn the basic principles of exercise, the risk factors of common chronic diseases and the appropriate steps to take to make lifestyle changes.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be familiar with the characteristics, tasks and activities related to the work function. They will have a good knowledge of the regulations in effect within the institutions and organizations concerned with the physical maintenance or fitness of the members of their communities.

Course description:

This course provides students with knowledge that they will use daily as a private trainer. They will learn to identify the muscles, bones and joints of the body. They will analyze which muscles work together and how muscles move joints with proper mechanics to maintain fitness and avoid injury.

By the end of this course, students will be able to name, locate, and convey information regarding the major muscles of the trunk, upper and lower extremities, bones of the body, and how they form the various joints of the spine, upper and lower extremities. In addition, they will know the function of the joints and the proper mechanics for proper movement.

Course description:

This course is designed to develop the student’s knowledge and integrated view of the basic concepts of homeostatic physiology and exercise.

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to analyze the normal functioning of systems (homeostasis) and relate the application of these concepts to their fitness work with specific populations and individuals with health problems.

Course description:

This course is designed to develop the student’s knowledge of the methodology of designing basic physical activity programs and prepares them to clearly define general and specific objectives so that they can eventually lead and teach a variety of group exercises using various training equipment. Students will also learn to design and adapt group exercise programs for special populations with medical restrictions.

YMCA Certification – Upon completion of this course, the student must choose from the following list the group fitness certification they wish to obtain: group choreography, weight training or cardio cycle.

Course description:

This course is designed to teach the student the fundamental principles and knowledge base of biomechanics. The course leads the student to analyze human movement and muscle activity on the human body. It offers a more in-depth look at the loss of homeostasis: pathology. The course provides a theoretical foundation for the various medical conditions in relation to the systems affected, including the physiological mechanisms of pain, pregnancy and aging, and establishes relevant links with physical rehabilitation processes.

The objectives at the end of this course are to improve the student’s knowledge of applied anatomy, joint structure and biomechanics and understanding of how the body processes physical forces. Students will also expand their knowledge of proper movement analysis and muscle testing. This course will assist in understanding and applying the techniques learned in the fitness assessment course.

Course description:

The Postural Assessment and Movement Analysis course is designed to teach the student assessment skills to design a specific and individualized conditioning program.

The objectives of this course are to enhance the student’s knowledge of assessment, selection of fitness exercises to reduce the risk or recurrence of injury. Students will also increase their knowledge of working with individuals with muscular imbalances, chronic injuries and health problems.

Course description:

This course provides the student with an understanding of the functions of the various organs and systems of the human body in order to better understand and explain pathophysiological mechanisms in various static and dynamic positions. Students will review the major physiology concepts learned at the beginning of the program while gaining a deeper understanding of various systems including the nervous system, cardiac system, respiratory system, and endocrine system.

Students will also learn how different environmental stressors and life stages (sleep, nutrition, hydration, adolescence, pregnancy, and aging) affect physiological function as well as being able to convey accurate information about human body postures and movements.

Course description:

This course will establish the link between nutrients and physiological activities such as cellular metabolism, energy balance, biochemistry of major nutrients and characterize pathological situations generating specific nutritional needs. This course will allow students to suggest dietary practices based on identified constraints, in relation to the client’s fitness level.

Course description:

This course allows students, based on identified constraints, to establish links between physical activity and the aging process, to identify the benefits and barriers of physical activity among older adults and to develop safe fitness techniques for interventions with geriatric clients.

Course description:

This course examines and clearly defines the scope of practice in terms of teaching, coaching and selection of fundamentals in the development of personalized programs.

At the end of the course, the student will be able to analyze a request or a need in order to create or adapt conditioning activities within a fitness program. He/she will be able to experiment with the various scenarios selected and make the necessary corrections after evaluating the results obtained in relation to the objectives pursued.

Course description:

The course content includes the identification of chronic diseases, the effect of other factors such as multiple health problems, chronic pain, obesity and frailty. It also establishes links between the signs observed in the person and the mechanisms of adaptation and maladaptation (bereavement, depression, psychological distress, chronic pain and others). Finally, it allows the application of intervention strategies adapted to the type of environment in order to promote the person’s orientation and autonomy.

The student will be able to apply appropriate guidelines and exercise activities for clients living with heart disease, various types of cancer, diabetes, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), arthritis, neuromuscular disorders and other chronic health problems.

Course description:

At the end of this course, the student will be able to manage the health and safety risks of participants during a fitness activity. In this regard, the student will be able to identify factors that may increase their stress level and use appropriate means to better prepare themselves for stressful situations. The student learns to apply CPR techniques and the AED (automatic external defibrillator) until the arrival of emergency medical services. He/she will be able to write reports following incidents or accidents and follow up on the emergency response plan or develop one, if necessary.

YMCA Certification – Upon completion of this course, the student obtains a certificate from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Quebec or the Quebec Red Cross.

Course description:

The course focuses on individual behaviors and current activities that influence the health of an organization’s staff (Corporate Fitness Training Specialist). The student develops the ability to identify the adoption or maintenance of healthy lifestyle habits such as physical activity, nutrition, stress management, productivity and sleep.

The student will also review human factors that can affect cognitive skills, such as sleep deprivation, anxiety, addictions, and health conditions that affect employee performance in the workplace. This course also examines various health and wellness factors and considerations that are critical to the development of a healthy fitness culture within various types of organizations1.

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to explain the concepts of a number of comprehensive health approaches and assist in the informed selection of appropriate wellness and lifestyle techniques.

Course description:

This course is designed to introduce and expand the student’s knowledge of the work environment and the advocacy, sales, and marketing skills necessary to enter the workforce. The course is designed to enable the student to define a service offering and promote it to individuals, businesses and organizations.

The student will be able to design and produce promotional tools and present them in the context of information or awareness activities with various clienteles. The course also aims to train the student on the importance of customer service in the context of his professional interventions.

Course description:

This course is designed to develop the fitness professional’s knowledge of advanced programming for maintenance or fitness activities as a private trainer. The course teaches the knowledge and skills necessary to assess participants and create safe, effective and appropriate programs. It is designed to equip the student to organize and supervise the safe conduct of meetings. In this course, the student will apply the principles learned in a wide variety of specific exercises incorporating coaching essentials and basic professional practices of the fitness industry.

YMCA Certification – Upon completion of this course, the student can become certified as a private instructor.

Course description:

In this course, students will learn to assess dietary patterns for special populations (athletes, sportsmen, and seniors) and advise them on the best choices to make to meet their nutritional needs while working to improve their performance.

The course will provide an understanding of the major diets related to different health conditions and support adherence to new eating behaviors and practices.

Course description:

This course provides students with a tool for integrating the program’s learning and prepares them to assume the role of fitness program managers for various clients and organizations.

At the end of this capstone course, the student will be able to :

• Promote services related to physical fitness and maintenance activities by implementing a relevant and realistic promotional strategy in relation to the organization and delivery of an information or awareness activity.
• Adapt their approach to a geriatric clientele by using current assessment and treatment techniques related to the incidence of risk factors associated with frailty and geriatric diseases.
• Consider the contribution of nutrients to the functioning of the human body by considering the links between nutrients and physiological activities, situations of nutritional balance and imbalance, and pathological situations and specific nutritional needs.
• Analyze postures and movements of the human body by examining the contribution and respective positions of joint and muscle structures in static and dynamic positions and convey this information appropriately.
• Contribute to the promotion of nutritional advice for healthy individuals by making appropriate links to healthy eating goals and specific individual needs.
• Ensure, in stressful situations, first aid and risk management for the health and safety of individuals by identifying actual or potential sources of danger and implementing safety measures developed in the intervention plan for his/her environment.

YMCA Certification – Upon completion of this course, the student will be eligible for certification in Functional Fitness for Seniors.

Course description:

The internship or work experience portion of the ACS program provides students with a variety of opportunities to put into practice the many skills and theories learned in the program.
Students must find an internship with private companies, community centers, sports clubs, fitness clubs, outdoor centers, resorts, recreation centers, health care facilities and retirement homes to complete their program.

Upon completion of the internship, the student will be able to establish professional relationships with clients, establish professional relationships with community resources and specialists from other organizations, resolve conflict situations, participate in team meetings and establish public relations.